Plasterer
Career outlook for plasterer
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£19,000
£19,000
Experienced
£34,000
£34,000
Currently employed in Scotland
1,200
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would work in people’s homes and other buildings to prepare the walls and ceilings for decorating and to protect the building from the weather.
You’d apply different kinds of plaster to internal walls and ceilings. You’d cover external walls with coatings, such as sand and cement render or pebble-dash.
You’d calculate how much plaster you need for the size of the job. Once it is mixed and ready to use you’d need to work quickly and accurately by hand.
As part of a small team, you’d work on one of these processes:
- Solid plastering – applying wet finishes to surfaces and putting protective coverings like pebble-dashing on external walls
- Fibrous plastering – creating ornamental plasterwork, such as ceiling roses, cornices, and architraves, using a mixture of plaster and short fibres shaped with moulds and casts
- Dry lining – fixing internal plasterboard or wallboard partitions by fastening them together on a timber or metal frame ready for decorating
You could work on small jobs, repairs and restoration in people’s homes . Other jobs could be at big commercial developments such as schools or hospitals.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
30%
Part-time
0%
Self employed
70%
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- Problem solving
- Working with numbers
- Observation
- Attention to detail
- Concentrating
- Time management
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Qualifications
You would need a Modern Apprenticeship registered with the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).
You do not always need formal qualifications to enter this apprenticeship but most employers value a good general education. Some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.
Useful subjects
- English
- Maths
- A technologies subject
You will also need
You usually have to take an aptitude test before you can start training.
You must have a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on site and will need to pass a health and safety test.
Helpful to have
Qualifications and experience that show practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF level 4/5).
A driving licence can be useful.